Jacking up the spyder to change front preload

[harrypottar]

My front suspension preload is still set at 3, I want to take it up a notch but it wont move.

Manual states to raise the bike to lower the suspension springs to alter the preload (so i'm told, I don't read manuals myself)

Where is best place to raise the sypder to change the pre-load

tia

harry

 

[ornerydog7]

My front suspension preload is still set at 3, I want to take it up a notch but it wont move.

Manual states to raise the bike to lower the suspension springs to alter the preload (so i'm told, I don't read manuals myself)

Where is best place to raise the sypder to change the pre-load

ti


Check this out:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?14601-Lifting-the-RT

 

[Bob Denman]

Actually you just need to get the front wheels up off the ground only a little bit...
I stuffed my ATV lift up under the center of the biike and moved it around until I found a spot that seemed solid and did get the right parts airborne.
I'd imagine that you could stick a jack up under the center somewhere under the engine and find a useful spot...
Good Luck and please let us know how you like the new preload settings! :thumbup:

 

[stevedfive]

I used a floor jack under the center of the bike, just enough to get some weight off the front wheels to make the adjustment. If your dealer is close they can do it in 15 mins.

 

[Jeriatric]

If you have one. You can use a scissor jack (front center of frame beam) if all you want to do is unload the front end. However if you want to get the wheels off the ground using a scissor jack is probably not a good idea.

 

[TRQ]

As soon as I got my RTS home from the dealer, the first thing I did was use a scissor jack underneath just forward of center to raise the front end enough to change to position 5. I put 20 lbs of pressure in the front tire and immediately noticed a difference in cornering.

 

[Bob Denman]

There you go... :thumbup: Welcome to the world of suspension tuning! :clap:

 

[harrypottar]

I had to use a small scissor jack as my normal jack wouldn't fit under.

I just went up to 4 to give it a try, I want the cushy touring ride but with out the slop in the corners.

Took it for a ride tonight and boy what a difference, going to leave it on 4 for the ride up to Laconia on Saturday but when I get more time might try 5.

4 made it stiffer in the corners but still maintained a soft ride while going over the odd pot hole or rodent.

I like the idea of the Elka shocks purely for the simple dial adjustment.

I ride solo, with wife, with my son, with trailer and even some times with wife and trailer although that very dangerous to do so.

Be nice to just dial in a comfort setting rather than have to jack up the front just to change the preload.

thanks for all the info

harry

 

[NancysToy]

I ride solo, with wife, with my son, with trailer and even some times with wife and trailer although that very dangerous to do so.

:dontknow: :hun: Why, pray tell? I have put on thousands of miles with wife and trailer. Of course I don't make mine ride in the trailer like you must. :joke:



BTW, the shock settings or rear airbag settings do not need to be changed for trailer use...the trailer tongue weight is unsprung weight.

 

[Jeriatric]

I had to use a small scissor jack as my normal jack wouldn't fit under.

I just went up to 4 to give it a try, I want the cushy touring ride but with out the slop in the corners.

Took it for a ride tonight and boy what a difference, going to leave it on 4 for the ride up to Laconia on Saturday but when I get more time might try 5.

4 made it stiffer in the corners but still maintained a soft ride while going over the odd pot hole or rodent.

I like the idea of the Elka shocks purely for the simple dial adjustment.

I ride solo, with wife, with my son, with trailer and even some times with wife and trailer although that very dangerous to do so.

Be nice to just dial in a comfort setting rather than have to jack up the front just to change the preload.

thanks for all the info

harry

harry, have you checked to see where the dealer or BRP preset your trailer? Checked mine the other day and they were on 'three'. Not enough for my liking, so popped the wheels off and stiffened them up too.

 

[harrypottar]

harry, have you checked to see where the dealer or BRP preset your trailer? Checked mine the other day and they were on 'three'. Not enough for my liking, so popped the wheels off and stiffened them up too.

Sadly no, my trailer is a 3rd party it has torsion bar suspension, this is one of the reasons I really want the BRP trailer.

Mine will do while I look for the deal of the century on a BRP trailer, but I will get one then sell mine on.

harry

 

[harrypottar]

:dontknow: :hun: Why, pray tell? I have put on thousands of miles with wife and trailer. Of course I don't make mine ride in the trailer like you must. :joke:



BTW, the shock settings or rear airbag settings do not need to be changed for trailer use...the trailer tongue weight is unsprung weight.

Wow trailer and wife is EXTREMELY dangerous, if we're out on just the spyder, I can just say, 'wow I love it too, your right it would look great in the hall, if only we had a way of getting it home I would buy it in a heartbeat' With the trailer I run out of excuses.

Many years ago we where out on our Honda ACE shadow it just had leather side bags. She came across a famers market, we traveled home with the bags stuff with vegetables to the brim, but worse still we had extremely large corn stalks tied to the bike, that would make any flag display small in comparison.pps:

harry

 

[Jeriatric]

Sadly no, my trailer is a 3rd party it has torsion bar suspension, this is one of the reasons I really want the BRP trailer.

Mine will do while I look for the deal of the century on a BRP trailer, but I will get one then sell mine on.

harry

Lava?

and is your Anglia anything like this?



If it is.......maybe we can work a deal on a trailer........:joke:

 

[harrypottar]

:dontknow: :hun: Why, pray tell? I have put on thousands of miles with wife and trailer. Of course I don't make mine ride in the trailer like you must. :joke:



BTW, the shock settings or rear airbag settings do not need to be changed for trailer use...the trailer tongue weight is unsprung weight.

speaking of putting the wife in the trailer, if you see August 2012 (current) RoadBike magazine, I won the back page caption contest.

harry

 

[harrypottar]

Lava?

and is your Anglia anything like this?

View attachment 47800

If it is.......maybe we can work a deal on a trailer........:joke:

The Anglia is my friends but we've borrowed it a couple of times to get back to school



Yes my trailer is color matched to the lava.



Pictures don't do it justice its a perfect match to the spyder

harry

 

[NancysToy]

Wow trailer and wife is EXTREMELY dangerous, if we're out on just the spyder, I can just say, 'wow I love it too, your right it would look great in the hall, if only we had a way of getting it home I would buy it in a heartbeat' With the trailer I run out of excuses.

Many years ago we where out on our Honda ACE shadow it just had leather side bags. She came across a famers market, we traveled home with the bags stuff with vegetables to the brim, but worse still we had extremely large corn stalks tied to the bike, that would make any flag display small in comparison.pps:

harry

:roflblack: The way mine packs for a trip, there is no room left in the trailer for shopping ballast. Heck, we don't even have room for our helmets when we go into a restaurant this trip. nojoke

 

[Bob Denman]

Harry,
Your Wife and my Missus must be kindred spirits... Has your discovered online shopping where everything gets delivered right to your door? :yikes:
Mine has... :gaah:
She's also learned to stuff the saddlebags like a pro... I think that she could stuff a body into them if she was a mob "hitperson" :shocked: